After what went down last year, the Baltimore Ravens are carrying the weight of heavy expectations in 2026. For such a successful organization, the fanbase isn’t going to accept back-to-back disappointing campaigns. They need to flip the script.
There really wasn’t one main culprit from last season’s disaster. Almost every single position group faltered in some sort of way. Players disappointed; rookies didn’t introduce themselves to the NFL as they'd hoped, and others just weren't given opportunities by the old coaching staff.
For these three players, fans will be keeping an eye on them, waiting for them to make an impact.
3 Baltimore Ravens players who fans will be keeping a close eye on in 2026
Rashod Bateman
In terms of guys who came up short in 2025, Rashod Bateman might be near the top of the list. When you sign an extension in the offseason prior, and then end up posting 19 receptions, 224 yards, and two touchdowns, that’s more than a disappointment. That’s a catastrophe.
Despite all the things that went wrong for Bateman last year, the Ravens are once again running him out as the No. 2 wide receiver behind Zay Flowers. At least at the moment. The team did draft two wideouts in the 2026 NFL Draft, so that’ll raise the stakes for Bateman.
Still, it’ll take some time before rookies Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt are ready to go. Bateman will remain the go-to deep threat, and after losing Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in free agency, more targets should be on the table. He needs to take advantage of that and prove he can be a trustworthy piece in Charm City.
Malaki Starks
For Malaki Starks, it’s more about developing into an above-average safety. He was easily one of the top players in his draft class, and although he played well in his rookie year, even he would admit it was below his expectations.
Starks really has everything you’d want in an up-and-coming safety. He flashes the coverage skills of a cornerback, exceptional ball skills, and an IQ that can really separate him from most NFL defenders. With another year in the league, it’s fair to expect his production to take off.
He also gets to play under Jesse Minter. That’s a major win, and it’s almost guaranteed that the coaching upgrade will help bring Starks to another level. Fans should be eager for what’s in store in 2026.
Aeneas Peebles
If there’s one player that Baltimore’s fanbase wants to see break through more than anyone, it might be Aeneas Peebles. He brings the juice as an interior pass rusher, which instantly made him an offseason darling in 2025. Unfortunately, the snaps never came his way.
Could that change with Minter at the helm? It’s a bit more likely; however, it’s far from a guarantee. He is deep down the depth chart, but when you bring the kind of get-off, speed in pursuit, and incredibly high motor that Peebles possesses, it’s hard to keep that kind of player off the field.
There’s a real chance that Peebles can’t crack the rotation, or even worse, he misses out on the 53-man roster in its entirety. He’s already a fan favorite, though, and from what he’s shown in his young career, he at least deserves an opportunity to prove his worth.
Add us as a preferred source on Google